Today, I was pulled over and fined $100 for driving without a license, as I'd accidentally left home without my wallet. I later found my wallet wedged beside my car seat, where it had been the entire time. FML

I have the same experience as #20, they've looked me up a few times because I left my license in a work truck or something. I'll add that I live in California where I get pulled over weekly either for my tint or because "It looked like you were speeding." Douchiest cops in America patrol my town and they still look me up when I forget my license.

Around here they issue a conditional ticket, even if you know your license number like I do. If you report to the police station with it in 48 hours they cancel it. If you don't, you've got to go fight it in traffic court.

#8, like everyone else said, it doesn't matter. If you have a driver's license and go to court and show you have it, whether it was in the car with you or not, you'll likely get the ticket dropped. Same with a proof of insurance ticket; easy to dismiss if you actually have insurance and go to court for the ticket.

From other Aussie commenters apparently it is a fine no matter what. When I was there I just had to go to the us embassy and then to a local court to get a ticket cleared up. Had a 5 day port call swerved to dodge a camel, yes camel, and ended up blowing two tires and apparently passport and American ID wasn't good enough.

A cop once pulled up to my window as I was waiting in a parking lot and asked for my license, which I had left at home, but he just looked me up on his laptop and all was well. I wonder if it works the same in other countries